Sunday's series finale at Comerica Park has a hook the schedule-makers couldn't have drawn up better: Verlander, 43, takes the ball for his first home start in a Tigers uniform since 2017 against the Chicago White Sox at 1:40 PM ET. His only big-league outing this year was the 5-run, 3.2-inning loss in Arizona back in April before the left hip flared up, so there's no projecting what version of him Detroit gets — only that Comerica will be loud for it.
Chicago, somehow, is the more interesting story coming in. Will Venable's group is 38-34 and has spent chunks of June tied with Cleveland atop the AL Central — yes, the same franchise that lost 102 last year. The vibes took a hit in New York, though: the Yankees boat-raced them 12-2 and 10-5 to close the week, and now Hagen Smith is shut down 2 weeks with a shoulder impingement on top of a rotation already missing Schultz, Thorpe and Bush.
Detroit's last 5 are uglier than the record suggests — a tie in Cleveland, then a 1-2 trip through Houston where they got outscored in the back end. Losing Jack Flaherty to a peroneal strain right before this homestand is exactly why Verlander's return is more than a feel-good — A.J. Hinch needs the innings. Gleyber Torres is still out with the side issue and Wenceel Perez has been in and out of the lineup, so a Tigers offense already missing Parker Meadows is leaning hard on Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson to carry it.
- Day-To-DaySean Newcomb RP — Newcomb notched a save against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over two scoreless innings.
- Day-To-DayHagen Smith SP — Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTim Elko 1B — no
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami 1B — White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that Murakami (hamstring) stayed back in Chicago during the team's road trip and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz SP — Schultz (knee) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks RP — Hicks (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILTyler Gilbert RP — The White Sox placed Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.
- Day-To-DayWenceel Perez RF — Perez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno C — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres 2B — Torres (side) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Houston.
- 15-Day-ILJack Flaherty SP — The Tigers placed Flaherty on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left peroneal strain.
- 15-Day-ILBurch Smith RP — Smith (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander SP — Verlander (hip) will return from the injured list to start Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 60-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — The Tigers transferred Baez (ankle) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney SS — Sweeney will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The pitching matchup against Verlander is the great unknown for Chicago — with Smith down and Schultz still rehabbing at Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox staff is essentially being held together with bullpen days and Davis Martin-types. If Venable scripts an opener for Sunday's series finale, expect a quick hook on whoever starts and a parade of arms behind it.
Stakes-wise: Chicago is fighting to stay in the Wild Card picture after a humbling weekend, Detroit is trying to claw the season back to something resembling respectable. A Sunday matinee, the old ace on the mound at home, and a White Sox team that's not the punchline anymore. Worth the watch.